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Iran urges IAEA to correct approach towards its nuclear program

Nuclear Program Materials 25 May 2011 16:20 (UTC +04:00)

Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Abbasi Wednesday called on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to abandon its past approach and correct its attitude towards Iran's peaceful nuclear program, IRNA reported.

Abbasi made the remark while talking to reporters at the end of a cabinet session this morning.

Abbasi, who is also Vice-President, urged the UN nuclear body to fulfill its commitments and put Iran's nuclear dossier back to its right track.

On commissioning of Bushehr nuclear power plant, he stressed that everything is going on according to the schedule. Tehran has its own domestic schedule, he added.

He reiterated that Bushehr power plant's safety has been given high priority.

On sanctions against Iranian companies, he said sanctions are ineffective and futile.

On Tuesday, May 24, the UN nuclear watchdog said it has received new information on possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme, heightening concerns about the true nature of Tehran's atomic drive, AFP reported.

In a restricted new report, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, the IAEA also said the Islamic republic has continued to increase its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, in defiance of multiple rounds of UN sanctions.

In the new nine-page report, circulated to IAEA member states ahead of a board of governors meeting next month, the watchdog said it had "received further information related to such possible undisclosed nuclear-related activities, which is currently being assessed."

Furthermore, there were "indications that certain of these activities may have continued beyond 2004," the report said.

And a senior international official familiar with the investigation said the alleged activities in Iran may even have continued "until rather recently", including in 2010.

Amano had written to Iran's vice president and head of its atomic energy body, Fereydoun Abasi, "reiterating its concerns (and) expressing the importance of Iran clarifying these issues," according to the report.

But Tehran has not yet responded, the official said.

Nevertheless, Amano's letter "makes it clear that we're very concerned and that Iran should engage with us," he said.

The IAEA calculated that Iran's stockpile of low-enriched uranium in the main branch of its Natanz uranium enrichment plant had now reached 4,105 kilogrammes.

Uranium enrichment is the most controversial part of Iran's nuclear activities because it can be used not only to generate nuclear fuel, but also to produce the fissile material for a nuclear bomb.

Tehran is under four sets of UN sanctions for refusing to halt such sensitive work.

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